Automatic switch for oil-well motors



March 27, 1928.

W. WERNER AUTOMATIC SWITCH FOR OIL WELL MONK-S original Filed April 6,192 s" Patented Mar. 27, 19 28.

WILLIAM WERNER, OF MEXIA, TEXAS.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH. FOR OIL-WELL MOTORS.

Application filed Apri 6, 1926, Serial No. 100,090. Renewed Kay 8, 1927.

My invention relates to switches for opening and closing the electriccircuit in which an electric motor is placed. It is particularly adaptedfor the control of electric I motors employed in operating pumping1nstallations in the production of oil.

It frequently occurs, in the pumping of 011 from producing wells, thatthe 011 does not flow into the well fast enough to supply the pump withfluid continuously. Thus, in order to pump the well economically thepump must be operated lntermittently. This involves the services of anattendant who has to start and stop the motor for the pump according tothe amount of liquid present in the well to be pumped.

It is an object of my invention to provide an automatic means forcontrolling the operation of the motor in a pumpmg equ pment for oilwells that will depend in 1ts action upon the rate of flow of oil intothe well.

It is an object to provide a float-operated switch adapted to start orstop the motor 5 under control of the flow of oil from the well which isbeing pum d.

Referring to the drawing herewith, wherein a preferred embodiment ofthe-invention is disclosed, Fig. 1 is a central vertical section througha float-operated switch employing my invention. Fig. 2 is a transversesection on the plane 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In the drawing, I have shown asection of an electric circuit in whichthe operating 85 motor for pumping the well is understood as beingconnected. One of the wires in the circuit is represented at 1 in thedrawing. The wire has two branches 2 and 3,

' indicated in the drawing, and in each of the branches, I have placed aswitch, indicated at 4 and 5 respectively. Said switches include a blockof insulating material 6 having a central conical opening therethroughin which are fitted two spaced plates 7 of conducting material. Thewires in each of the circuits are connected with the edges of the saidplates.

I contemplate opening or closing the connection between the two platesby means of contact members 8 and 9 in the two branches 2 and 3,respectively. These contact members are mounted upon rods 10 or 11, madeof insulating material and adapted to be automatically operated to closethe connection between the plates 7 in the manner which will bepresently described.

The switch and a pair of float chambers adjacent thereto are housedwithin a casing 12, the said casing having a dome shaped top 13 thereonprotecting the switch from IIIJIIIy.

There are two float chambers 14 and 15 placed closely adjacent to eachother and separated from the switch box by means of a partition 16. Thesaid float chambers are connected together at a point adjacent to theirupper ends by a short pipe 17.

The fluid which is being pumped from the producing well flows throughthe pipe 18 into the upper end of the float chamber 14 and has an outletfrom said chamber through two separate pipes. An upper pipe 19 ofcomparatively large diameter furnishes an outlet for most of the liquidon the level even with the opening 17 connecting the two chambers. Asecond outlet is formed by the pipe 20 at the lower end of the floatchamber 14. A valve 21 in said pipe 20 allows the control of fluidpassing through said pipe.

A float 22 in the chamber 14 is connected to the lower end of the rod 10and when the chamber 14 is filled to the proper level with oil, theswitch 8 will be held in position to close the circuit through thebranch 2.

The float chamber 15 has an outlet at its lower end by way of a pipe 23of comparatively small diameter. A valve 24 in this pipe serves tocontrol the amount of flow through said pipe. A float 25 in the chamber15 is connected to the lower end of the rod 11 and when the chamber 15is filled with fluid to the proper height, the said float will act toraise the contact member 9 and open the circuit through the branch 3.Both of the outlet pipes 20 and 23 discharge into the pipe line 19connected with the upper portion of the float chamber 14.

In the operation of pumping the well, the circuit will be closed throughthe branch 2, it being understood that the wire 1 and its two branchescomprise only a short section of one of the wires in a circuit includinga motor and a source of electricity. When the circuit is thus closed,the motor will be started. thus operating the pump and effecting a flowof liquid from the well through the pipe 18 into the float chamber 14.The two chambers 14 and 15 will be quickly filled with liquid to thelevel of the pipes 17 and 19. The bulk of the liquid being pumped willoverflow through the pipe 19 and will be conducted to storage.

maller amounts of the liquid will find an outlet through the pipes 20and 23 to the pipe 19. This operation will keep up until the liquid inthe well begins to run low. The amount of liquid flowing into thechamber 14 will be gradually reduced until the level of liquid inchamber 14 will tall below the outlet 19 and the remainder will pass outthrough the outlet 20. As the flow still further diminishes, the levelbf liquid in the chamber 14 will be lowered sufliciently to allow thefloat 22 to drop and move the contact member 8 downwardly to 0 en thecircuit through the branch 2, thus 5 utting down the motor.

The liquid in the chamber 15 will continue to flow outwardly through thepipe 23 and I contemplate regulating the flow of liquid through thispipeso that the chamber 15 will not be drained of its liquid for apredetermined period of time, depending upon the rate of flow of liquidinto the well. Thus, if the well fills up rapidly after the pump is shutdown, the flow of liquid from the chamber 15 will be more rapid thanwhen the well fills up slowly.. Within the period of time that it takesto fill up the well again, the chamber 15 will have been emptiedsufficiently to allow the float 25 to drop, bringing the contact member9 between the terminal plates 7 of the switch 5, thus again closing thecircuit and starting the motor. When the flow of liquid from the pumphas filled the chamber 14, the switch contact 8 will also be forced intoits seat closing the circuit at that point. The chamber 15 will alsosoon fill u and the contact member 9 will be unseate the parts againresuming the position shown in Fig. 1.

It will thus be seen that the motor operating the pump will beautomatically controlled so that it will be shut down when the supply offluid in the well has been temporarily exhausted, but will be againstarted and placed in operation when the well has again filled up. Thedevice is capable of regulation by means of the valves 21 and 24 for usein wells having difl'erent rates of flow or to adjust the device forvarying rates of flow in the same well. This will obviate the necessityof an attendant to constantly watch the well and will be an economy inlabor and also in wear and tear upon the operating equipment.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, an electric circuit includingaconductor having two branches, a switch in each of said branches,comprising two spaced plates, a. rod of electrically insulatingmaterial, a contact member on said rod shaped to fit bemosaics tweensaid plates, float chambers, floats therein connected with said rods,said chamhers having inlets and outlets for liquid arranged to open orclose said switches controlled by the amount of liquid delivered to saidchambers.

2. In a device of the character described, an electric circuit includingan electric conductor divided for a short distance into two branches, aswitch in each branch, rods of electrically insulating materialconnected with each switch, float chambers below said switches, floatsin said chambers connected with said rods, liquid inlets to saidchambers, outlet pipes of smaller diameter than said inlets, said floatsadapted to open or close. said switches depending upon the amount ofliquid delivered to said chambers.

3. In a device of the character described, an electric circuit includingan electric conductor divided for a short distance into two branches, aswitch in each branch, one switch opening upwardly and the other openingdownwardly, rods of electrically insulating material connected with eachswitch, float chambers below said-switches, floats in said chambersconnected with said rods, liquid inlets to said chambers, outlet pipesof smaller diameter than said inlets, said floats adapted to open orclose saidswitches depending upon the amount of liquid delivered to saidchambers.

4. In a device of the character described, an electric circuit includingan electric conductor divided for a short distance into two branches, aswitch in each branch, rods of electrically insulating materialconnected with each switch, float chambers below said switches, floatsin said chambers connected with said rods, liquid inlets to saidchambers, outlet pi es of smaller diameter than said inlets, said floatsadapted to open or close said switches depending upon the amount ofliquid delivered to said chambers, said upward] opening switch operatingto close in a pre etermined time after the other has been opened.

5. A fluid operated electric motor control comprising a conductor havingswitches therein, in combination with float chambers, floats in saidchambers, means connecting said floats with said switches, means toadmit fluid to said chambers, means to allow outlet of liquid therefrom,and means to regulate the outlet of liquid, whereby said circuit will beopened when the liquid level is at a predetermined low point in one ofsaid chambers, and closed when the level is at a predetermined low pointin the other chamber.

6. A fluid operated electric motor control comprising a conductor havingswitches therein, in combination with float chambers,

floats in said chambers, means connecting said. floats wlth saidswitches, pipes deliver- Ill ing liquid from a pumping well to saidchambers, separate pipes discharging liquid therefrom, and means toregulate the outlet of liquid, whereby said circuit will be opened whenthe liquid level is at a predetermined low point in one of saidchambers, and closed when the level is at a predetermined low point inthe other chamber.

7. In"a device of the character described, an electric circuit, aconductor having two branches therein, a separate switch in each branch,rods on said switches, a float connected with each switch, floatchambers for said floats, and means controlling the outlet of liquidfrom said chambers, whereby said switches are actuated to open saidcircuit when the liquid. supply is cut off from said chambers, and saidcircuit is closed again a predetermined period thereafter.

8. A fluid operated electric motor control comprising an electriccircuit having switch means therein in combination with a float chamber,a float in said chamber, means connecting said float and said switchmeans, and means to admit fluid pumped from a well into said chamber toactuate said float, whereby said circuit may be opened when the liquidlevel is low in said chamber, and means controlled by the supply ofwater to again close said circuit after a predetermined interval oftime.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 2nd day of AprilA. D. 1926.

WILLIAM WERNER.

